John E. Markwalter, managing editor of THE GEORGIA BULLETIN and THE SOUTHERN CROSS of Savannah, has been named a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Paul VI, according to an announcement by Bishop Raymond W. Lessard of Savannah, who informed Markwalter of the Papal honor by letter last week.

In his letter to Markwalter, the bishop said, “It is with great pleasure that I inform you that, in view of the twenty-five years of service which you have rendered in the field of Catholic Journalism in our area of the United States, His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, has conferred upon you the Knighthood of Saint Gregory."

Markwalter’s career with the Georgia diocesan newspapers began in 1946 while he was still a student at Boys Catholic High School, now Aquinas High School, Augusta.

Markwalter began as an office boy. In 1948, he joined the paper full time, as bookkeeper, under the editorship of the late Hugh Kinchley. At the time, the paper was known as THE BULLETIN of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia.

Upon the death of Kinchley in 1953, Markwalter was named managing editor.

In 1969, the newspaper of Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston began a joint printing venture with publication offices located at Waynesobro, Ga.

Markwalter is managing editor of all three papers.

Markwalter is married to the former Louise D”Antignac. The couple has three children. They are parishioners at St. Mary’s on the Hill in Augusta.

The official diploma and insignia of the Order will be conferred by Bishop Lessard in May. The date has not yet been set.